GLOBAL MARKETS-Global stocks flat as U.S. virus concerns offset Europe rebound hopes

By David Randall
NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - Global equities were flat and
perceived safe-haven assets like U.S. Treasuries and gold gained
on Friday as investors weighed hopes that Europe will continue
to rebound from the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic
against concerns about a record number of new COVID-19
infections in the United States.
The euro zone is "probably past" the worst of the economic
crisis caused by the pandemic, European Central Bank President
Christine Lagarde said, while urging authorities to prepare for
a possible second wave. There was a rise of at least 39,818 coronavirus cases across
the United States on Thursday, the largest one-day increase yet.
The governor of Texas temporarily halted the state's reopening
on Thursday as infections and hospitalizations surged.
"Even though we continue to see some pretty scary virus
numbers coming out of the U.S., it's not really dented sentiment
– not to any sustained degree at least," said Timothy Graf, head
of macro strategy for EMEA at State Street Global Markets.
MMSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS
shed 0.05% following broad gains in Europe and Asia. The index
is up approximately 40% since its March lows.
In morning trading on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average .DJI fell 227.81 points, or 0.88%, to 25,517.79, the
S&P 500 .SPX lost 17.49 points, or 0.57%, to 3,066.27 and the
Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 39.10 points, or 0.39%, to
9,977.90.
The euro gained versus the U.S. dollar and is on track for
its biggest weekly rise in three weeks after the ECB reaffirmed
its dovish stance in the minutes of its policy meeting.
Concerns about the economic fallout from the surge in U.S.
coronavirus cases helped bolster perceived safe havens. The
dollar index =USD rose 0.012% while benchmark 10-year notes
US10YT=RR were last up 3/32 in price to yield 0.6643%, from
0.674% late on Thursday.
Spot gold XAU= dropped 0.4% to $1,753.75 an ounce. U.S.
gold futures GCc1 gained 0.15% to $1,764.70 an ounce.
Credit Suisse changed its position on global equities to
"neutral" from "overweight", saying it was taking profits after
the recent rally, but kept its overweight positions in credit
markets.
"The upcoming earnings season, a recent uptick in
coronavirus infection numbers and political developments in the
USA create a challenging backdrop for financial markets going
into the summer," said Michael Strobaek, Credit Suisse's global
chief investment officer.
Record high inventories and fears of declining demand pushed
oil prices lower U.S. crude CLc1 recently fell
0.34% to $38.59 per barrel and Brent LCOc1 was at $40.93, down
0.29% on the day.

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